Calibrachoa plant named ‘DANO36’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Calibrachoa  cultivar named ‘DANOA36’ is disclosed, characterized by having orange flowers with distinctive red veins, a compact, mounded and upright plant habit and continuous flowering, including under short day conditions. The new variety is a  Calibrachoa,  normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Calibrachoa sp.

Variety denomination: ‘DANOA36’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Calibrachoa cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce newCalibrachoa varieties for commercial applications. The seed parent isthe unpatented, proprietary seedling variety referred to as Calibrachoasp. ‘CV-679.’ The pollen parent is the unpatented, proprietary seedlingvariety referred to as Calibrachoa sp. ‘Z-241.’ The new variety wasdiscovered in March 2006 by the inventor in a group of seedlingsresulting from that crossing, in a commercial greenhouse in MoshavMishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘DANOA36’ by vegetativecuttings was first performed at a commercial greenhouse in MoshavMishmar Hashiva, Israel in April 2006 and has shown that the uniquefeatures of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DANOA36’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DANOA36’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DANOA36’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoacultivar:

-   -   1. Unique flower color with an orange trumpet and distinctive        red throat and veins.    -   2. Flowers under short day conditions.    -   3. Flowers occur on the top of plant, as well as the sides.    -   4. Mounding plant habit.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANOA36’ are similar to plants of theparent, Calibrachoa sp. ‘CV 679’ in most horticultural characteristics,however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DANOA36’ are mounding, compared to‘CV 679’ which produces trailing plants.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANOA36’ are similar to plants of theparent, Calibrachoa sp. ‘Z-241’ in most horticultural characteristics,however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DANOA36’ are mounding, compared to‘CV 679’ which produces trailing plants. Additionally ‘Z-241 produces asolid orange color flower.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANOA36’ are similar to plants of thecommercial variety ‘DANCALBRIL,’ unpatented and undistributed in theUnited States, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants ofthe new cultivar ‘DANOA36’ have bi-color flowers, compared to solidpink. Additionally the new variety also produces flowers on the top andside of the plant, where as ‘DANCALBRIL,’ does not flower on the top,only on the side.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘DANOA36’ grown in a greenhouse, in a 16 cm. basket.Age of the plant photographed is 90 days from a rooted cutting.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a close up of a typical bloom of‘DANOA36.’

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘DANOA36’ plants grown in a greenhouse inMoshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The growing temperature ranged from 18°C. to 24° C. The greenhouse is subject to partial shape. General lightconditions are bright, normal sunlight, with some shade during thebrightest part of the day. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. cultivar ‘DANOA36.’

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: About 8 days at approximately 25° C.-   Time to develop roots: About 15 days at approximately 25° C.-   Root description: Fine, fibrous.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting: About 14 to 21 days at 25° C.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Spreading annual.-   Pot size of plant described: 12 cm.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 80 days from a rooted cutting.-   Height:    -   -   To top of flowers.—Approximately 30 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 70 cm.-   Growth rate: Vigorous.-   Branching characteristics: Very well-branched. Branches from base of    plant.-   Length of primary lateral branches: Approximately 50 cm.-   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 0.2 cm.-   Quantity of primary lateral branches: About 60.-   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:    -   -   Form.—Cylindrical.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 138B.        -   Texture.—Smooth.-   Internode length: Approximately 2 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Quantity.—Dozens per branch.        -   Average length.—Approximately 2 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Oblong.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of top surface.—Puberulous.        -   Aspect.—Slanted upward 45 to 90°.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137B. Young            foliage under side: Near RHS Green 138B. Mature foliage            upper side: Near RHS Green 137B. Mature foliage under side:            Near RHS Green 138B.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS            Green 137B. Venation color under side: Near RHS Green 138B.        -   Petiole.—None: Sessile.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Freely flowering all year in Moshav    Mishmar Hashiva Israel. Begins flowering approximately 55 days after    planting a rooted cutting.-   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Salverform, single with    fused petals.-   Rate of flower opening: Approximately 4 to 5 days from bud to fully    opened flower.-   Flower longevity on plant: Individual flowers last 4 to 5 days on    the plant.-   Quantity of flowers: Hundreds of flowers on each plant.-   Flower size:    -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 2.5 cm.        -   Length.—Approximately 2.0 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter at distal end.—Approximately 1 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter at proximal end.—Approximately 0.2 cm.-   Petals:    -   -   Length from throat.—About 1.3 cm.        -   Width.—About 1 cm.        -   Quantity.—5, fused.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.-   Color:    -   -   When opening.—Upper surface: Near RHS Yellow-Orange with red            halo. Lower surface: Near RHS Yellow-Orange with red veins.        -   Fully opened.—Upper surface: Near RHS Yellow-Orange 16C with            red halo. Lower surface: Near RHS Yellow-Orange 14D with red            veins. Flower throat (inside): Near RHS Orange-Red N34A            halo; Yellow-Green 151A. Flower throat, vein: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 151C. Flower tube (outside): Near RHS            Yellow-Green 151A. Flower tube, vein: Near RHS Yellow-Green            152C. Petal color, fading to: Pure white, not on RHS.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Oblong.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.7 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B.-   Calyx/Sepals:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—5, fused at base.        -   Shape.—Oblong.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.4 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.7 cm.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Fused.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Puberulose.        -   Color.—Upper Surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Lower            Surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 2.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 146B.        -   Orientation.—Slanted upward at an angle of about 45°.-   Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—5.        -   Filament length.—Approximately 0.6 cm.-   Anthers:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow 3A.        -   Pollen.—Color: Near RHS Yellow 3A. Quantity: Copious.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.7 cm.        -   Style.—Length: Approximately 0.5 cm. Color: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 154B.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Round. Color: Near RHS Gray-Green 197C. Ovary            Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed and not commercially important.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    pathogens and pests common to Calibrachoa have been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures    between 8 to 35° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘DANOA36’ asherein illustrated and described.